6 Rules for Attending Your First Bottle Share

Gay

 

Truth.

 

Don't spend the whole time humble bragging on Untappd...

 

That's pretty much how I am. If I know they'll appreciate good beer, I make it a point to pull out the good stuff. I am going to my sister's for Christmas. Her husband and my father love that I always bring some interesting stuff to try. This year, I'm bringing 2 Westy 12s, a Sucaba, and an Arthur.

 

I go to tastings regularly. I notice two groups of people. One group all has their head buried in the phone. The other group is conversing with actual people. I am in the latter and have made a lot of new friends at these events.

 

With all due respect, what is your rationale for this? If the newbies are bringing average mainstream beers, shouldn't we be opening up their eyes(tongues) and exposing them to the finer brews available?

 

I get what he's saying; if I'm trying to introduce some good stuff to people who are just getting into beer, I might crack open something from the Revolution Deep Wood Series, maybe some Backwoods Bastard, or something interesting from a local micro (Begyle, or a growler from Dry Hop). Basically something I got from the Trader Joe's around the corner or while out running errands one Saturday. But if one of my serious beer buddies was over, I might dip into the special occasion stash, because they always bring over stuff that blows my mind, and I'd want to return the favor/join in the fun.

 

Fair enough

 

Context dependent too - I mean, Revolution GraveDigger Billy was awesome, and I imagine that counts as a pretty hard to find beer if you live in Texas... Oh, and if your Trader Joes sells Deep Wood Series and Backwoods Bastard, where exactly in Chicago? I need to move there pronto

 

negative, most folks new to Craft beers need to take it slow and build there palate. no use wasting a top notch DIPA or a imperial stout on someone that is new to Stouts and IPA's in general .
I remember going to a beer trade about 5 years ago and could not believe how strong and turned off I was from a blackout stout from great lakes . these days I can suck one down and enjoy the flavor and still feel that is medium to light mouth feel

 

While I agree that palates are ever-changing, I think that's an unfair generalization and to say that a beer would be "wasted" on someone just because they haven't been drinking high-end craft beer for very long is a real detriment to the scene. I am sure you aren't trying to be a dick, but to me, that statement comes off as rather elitist.

 

I do not think we are on the same page, I have no problem pulling out a god beer as in a good brewery or a great beer that is not over the top such as a Imperial stout or a DIPA or something like Backwoods bastard or a BA Yeti. I do feel it would be a waste as they will not be able to enjoy it as someone that has a palate built. someone that is new to craft beer and thinks a Serra Nevada pale ale is hoppy and a big upgrade from Coors light would not be ready for the bigger, top end craft beers.
I personally am new to sours and Lambics . I have a few Cantillon's in the cellar but do not dare open them until I let me palate develop to the style.

 

Again to my point, if someone is a Coors light drinker and comes to the house, I will not pull out a Wake n Bake for them to drink but if someone is a craft beer drinker and appreciates craft beer, I will be more than happy to pull out anything they would like to drink ..

 

I feel like it's pretty sad you guys are saying it's a waste of elite craft beer if it's being drank by someone who is new to this interest. Maybe this beer or style will peak their interest, it could also be too much for their taste buds at the time. I get that you probably wouldn't pull out a special cellared beer from your collection to just split with a new person, but hey, some people would do that and all this beer has to get tasted some time. There's no beer I have right now that if someone came over and wanted to try it, I wouldn't just open it because well why not? It is just beer after all, and if they don't like it, I'll drink it.

 

I think any implied "rules" depend on the situation. I've been to small bottle shares at peoples houses and on the other hand I've been part of 200 person bottle shares at breweries on beer release mornings

 

#4 is not detailed enough - to make it through a large share you should drink an equal amount of water for every sample. Finish your 2 oz sample and fill your glass with 2 oz of water and drink it.
This rinses the glass, cleans your palate and help keep you sober.
Works for me every time.

 

I'm on da nort side - all the TJs around me had Gravedigger Billy, Mean Gene, and Straight Jacket this year (no Bean Gene, Blue Gene, or Deth's Tar), and Mad Cow and Deth's Tar last year. They're always priced $1 less than at Binny's.

 

I need to get my arse to TJ's!

 

Disagree w not ticking. I have never been to a bottle share where at least one person wasn't instagramming or untappding. If you want to tick, tick...but you might get made fun of.

 

You need a couple people ticking into Untappd. That way, the next day, you just look through their ticks, and tick off the ones you had. Win-win!